Quotes to Live and Work By...

"Parents don't make mistakes because they don't care, but because they care so deeply."
-Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

 

"A review of the evidence for both K-12 and ECE reveals three key ingredients that contribute to effective teaching across all age spans:

First, preparation matters -- the content and the method of delivery of the educational program influences how effective teachers will be;

Second, support matters -- even the best educated and seasoned teachers need ongoing opportunities to continue learning on the job, and

Third, reward matters -- absent a respectful work environment, and that includes earning a living or professional wage, even the most competent teachers will falter and often leave their jobs or the profession altogether."

-Dr.Marcy Whitebook

No Single Ingredient: 2020 Vision for the Early Learning Workforce

 

"I wanted to keep doing more and that’s why I became an administrator. Because I felt like I had a larger impact on managing programs and being able to shape programs. Be able to shape programs and look at how you design a program that will best benefit the children not only the children, but also benefiting  the families in the program."
Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed
Executive director School of Early Childhood Education
University of  Southern California

Personal Childhood Web

 My first person in my childhood web is my birthmother. I have known since a very young age that I was adopted as my parents believed that it was best to hear this news from them rather than stumble upon her in a super market.  I was always told to be prepared for what information I may receive as she might not want to be contacted. I waited until I was in my 20s to find her after being in a serious car accident. Once I found her, I was thrilled but my parents never prepared me for how they would react and I found myself protective over my parents and didn't want her to replace the mother that raised me.  I never realized the love she must have had for me to give me up to a family she didn't know until I gave birth to my first child. While I have never met her in person, we converse through emails and cards as I'm just not ready to explain this relationship to my own children. Thank you to Becky for giving me life.

 

My 2nd connection is my godmother and namesake. She was a nurse who took care of my father with his heart condition. My father had a major surgery completed in which a pig valve was used to replace a faulty heart valve and she was the nurse who assisted in maintaining my father's life. As a tribute to her care and love for my family, I was named after her and she became my godmother. She has helped to develop a relationship based on faith. My fondest memories with her are making chocolate candies at Christmas while spending the night at her house. To this day we meet twice a year to celebrate Christmas and our birthdays (both in the month of June). Thank you to Aunt Arlene for giving me a name.

My last connections are of those who raised me and my "little" brother. My dad always told me the story of receiving the phone call that I had arrived. He saw me looking a mess with a onsie that was too big and my hair a mess, yet I reached up and grabbed his finger. He knew then that I was the one. Many nights, while my mom worked, he would tell me stories of his childhood and share his favorite memories of me and would get teary eyed, then blame it on his allergies. He passed away in 1992 from a heart condition. I would love to hear those stories again. My mom is my best friend and has always been the one I turn to in time of need. She is the one who nursed me when I had chicken pox and broken hearts. She was the one who would go shopping with me and as I have grown, help me to be the mother I am today. I still look back and laugh when I called her in a panic because I didn't know who to take a rectal temp. She came over and walked me through it. My "little" brother is my life line. While he says I am more like a 2nd mother, he has taught me so much. I remember making tents out of our beds and watching "Jetsons" while eating Doritos when we were young. There is 8 years between us and sometimes I do feel that it's a lifetime as we are in different places in our lives, but I love him dearly and I know he loves me as well. Thank you to my family who raised me: Dad (Bill), Mom (Barb) and brother (Jason).

 

Making a Difference

I had a child who taught me to be a teacher. She would come to preschool each day and the other children knew she was different. She came in on a bus from a local special needs agency and would only be with us for half of the day. She was quiet, very thin and loving.

This little girl didn't have any friends in the classroom except for the teaching staff. She would eat other childrens' snacks and when those were gone, she would resort to eating out of the garbage can. Many times, I would let her come in early and attempt to provide breakfast out of my own pocket for her before the other children arrived.

One day she came to school with her head shaved. I called the house only to find that she had lice and the family chose not to use the shampoo, but just shave her head. This killed me as I watched the reactions of the other children and attempted to work them through the changes. During my phone conversation, I asked about her eating habits and was given a song and dance on how they cannot get her to comply with anything and she won't take a bath.

I made the call to children's services and hoped for the best. They took the information and her home was investigated. She did not return to school the next 2 days and I feared the worst. No one could give me answers and I felt guilty for making the call, but hoped I did the right thing. She came back to school briefly and then transferred to a new school. Luckily I had known a teacher at the new school and found out that additional calls were made about the lack of care for this child and she was eventually removed from the home along with her little brother, but her older sister remained. I was told that I would not recognize her as she gained weight and looked healthy. I felt proud that I had started the ball rolling and helping her to have a better life.

A few months later I checked in on her and she was removed from foster care and returned to her family. I pray for her each night and hope that she is not enduring the conditions that I can only imagine she has lived through. Through her I learned to be the voice of a child. I hope I made a difference.

Quotes & Meanings

I chose Shel Silverstein's "Listen to the Mustn'ts" as my meaningful child quote:

"Listen to the Mustn'ts, child, listen to the don'ts
Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Won'ts,
Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me,
Anything can happen child, Anything can be."

I think back to the days my children were just little infants and we would have story time every night. I would use this poem as sort of a prayer for them as I tucked them in. It's my hope for not only my children, but all children that they can do whatever they put their mind to.

Sticky Notes

I attended and helped to facilitate a training on staff support. One of the interesting tidbits that stuck with me was to treat staff as I would expect them to treat the children. We talked at great length about how to make staff feel valued and I realized that it's been a while since I've truly been in the classroom. I've been in and out to deliver messages and such or make rounds in the morning for the updates, but not truly in the room to enjoy the children and share positive feedback with staff.

Today I shared how in the past I would see something great and leave a sticky note about my observation on their door and how much that meant to them that someone noticed. Parents also enjoyed reading these anecdotal records as well. For one reason or another, I have gotten away from that. I realize today, I need to get back in touch with my staff.

My Journey Begins Today

My work day began with conducting 2 staff evaluations in which the associates felt their performance was better than I have observed over the last 6 months. They each made comments that made reflect on the type of leader I am and what I hope to learn from this journey.

I was told today that each time I introduce a change, the staff feel that I imply that they cannot do anything right and that I take things too fast. Another suggested that I do not care for her as she is going through some personal things and I need to take that into consideration when evaluating her.

Today, I second guess myself. I wonder if I do push too much change and expect to be the best but at what cost? Do I care about the personal side of my associates? Yes, but there is still a job expectation to be held to so how do I find the balance and be everything to everyone?

Today, my journey in self reflection begins.